JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A veto about garbage was thrown in the trash and now a company that donated campaign funds to some Jacksonville City Council candidates is getting an additional $4 million in taxpayer money.

The increase in funding for Meridian Waste was approved during the most recent City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in which council voted to override a veto by Mayor Donna Deegan. 

This has led many on social media to speculate about those city council member’s campaign donations, pointing to donations directly from Meridian Waste for each of the 14 city council members who voted to override the veto.

Did every Jacksonville City Council member who voted for the increase get a campaign donation from Meridian Waste?

Duval County Supervisor of Elections financial report search

First Coast News can Verify that no, not every city council member who voted to override the mayor’s veto received campaign donations from Meridian Waste.

Prior to the last citywide election, 11 politicians received $1,000 dollar checks from Meridian Waste for their campaigns for office. However, not all of the politicians ran for Jacksonville City Council and not all of the politicians who received checks from Meridian Waste won their respective race.

Raul Arias, Mike Gay, Randy White, Ken Amaro, Kevin Carrico, Will Lahnen, Joe Carlucci, Michael Boylan, Reggie Gaffney Jr., Ju’Coby Pittman, Rory Diamond, Nick Howland, Chris Miller and Ron Salem all voted to override the mayor’s veto in a 14-4 vote by council.

Arias, White, Amaro, Lahnen, Pittman, Miller and Salem all received money from Meridian Waste during their 2023 campaigns.

Amaro’s campaign received a $1,000 check from Meridian Waste on March 16th, 2023. Nearly 2 years later he said his vote to override the veto was not political.

“Trash collection doesn’t have a D or R next to it,” said Amaro during Tuesday’s council meeting, “folks just want their trash gone, they don’t care if you’re a republican or democrat, this ensures the trash will be picked up and payment adequate.”

Councilman Mike Gay did not receive campaign funding from Meridian, but still voted in overriding the mayor’s veto.

“They’re asking to be able to stay competitive and sustain in business and that’s what we’re dealing with here,” said Gay during Tuesday’s meeting, “they just don’t have people knocking down their doors to work for them.”

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Arias said his vote to override the mayor’s veto had nothing to do with politics.

“It’s not about a veto or who has more power,” said Arias, “to me it’s about doing what’s right for our community and for the workers who are doing the job many would not do.”

Accepting this level of campaign funding donations is completely legal because it was disclosed by the candidates at the time of the donation before the election.